Best Bi Short Stories book release party was historic

August 30, 2014

The long-awaited Best Bi Short Stories book release party took place at the Bureau of General Services-Queer Division on June 21st. This event marked the first time a book of bisexual literary fiction short stories was published. BBSS is a literary anthology bringing together the very finest representations of bisexuality in fiction and encompassing multiple genres.

Five local writers from the book appeared at the party to read their stories: Cecilia Tan read from her speculative fiction story Dragon’s Daughter; Florence Ivy read her magical realism piece The Lottery; Ann Herendeen read from her historical, slash fiction story Pride/Prejudice; Kate Durré read her Medieval, historical fiction piece Companions and Sheela Lambert read her contemporary fiction story Memory Lane and served as host of the festivities.

Getting a groundbreaking bisexual anthology into print isnt easy: the editor’s quest to publish this volume spanned eight years and rejections from at least as many publishers, as she explained to the audience. Luckily, one of the most recent writers to join the lineup was also a publisher who believed in the mission of the book and took on the task of ushering it into print: Cecilia Tan of Circlet Press, who had just resumed publishing print books, in addition to e-books.

After the party, authors and audience decamped to a nearby restaurant for a celebratory dinner.

Best Bi Short Stories: Bisexual Fiction edited by Sheela Lambert is available in e-book and in print online from Circlet Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository and can be ordered by your favorite book purveyor (from the book distributor Ingram.) Review copies are available through NetGalley or Circlet Press.

All photographs accompanying this article are by Efrain John Gonzalez.